Pair your hunting rifle with the FLIR Thermosight Pro PTS233 Thermal Imaging scope to get better shots and a more successful hunting trip.
The Pro PTS233 features a durable and lightweight aircraft aluminum build and comes in a rugged plastic hard case. It is compact and very user-friendly with straightforward controls.
A FLIR Boson core with a 12 µm vanadium oxide uncooled detector ensures excellent performance. Plus, the scope features a 19 mm germanium glass objective lens covered by a tethered cap.
The PTS223 features 320x256 resolution, a 60 Hz refresh rate, and a native magnification of 1.5x. It also has a digital zoom of 1x, 2x, and 4x, plus the real-world FLCOS display is impressive at this price point.
The scope can capture still images and videos with maximum clarity. The onboard memory can store up to 1000 images and 2.5 hours' worth of videos. There are seven palette choices with five different reticle patterns, and the reticle colors are also changeable.
The FLIR Pro PTS223 uses 2 CR123A lithium batteries that last for almost 4 hours. Its accessories include spare batteries, battery cassettes, lens cloth, and a USB cable.
The USB Type-C cable provides an external power supply and also helps download and share videos and images.
While the primary purpose of the PTS223 is hog hunting, it is also highly suitable for law enforcement, military, and civilian use. It is also waterproof and ensures superior visibility, regardless of the weather conditions.
Finally, the scope comes with a limited 10-year warranty on the uncooled detector and a 3-year warranty on other components.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Extremely durable, high-quality build.
- Easy to set up and use.
- Multiple reticle options and colors to choose from.
- Compact and manageable design.
- Clear and precise imaging even in the dark.
- It comes with multiple accessories.
- Powerful and functional in all weather conditions.
- Good battery life.
- HD display for clarity and better detection.
Cons
- A bit overpriced.
- It lacks a focus ring.
- No drop-down reticle.
Unique Features
The FLIR Thermosight Pro PTS233 Thermal Imaging Rifle Scope incorporates an exceptionally impressive set of unique features that make it an ideal companion on a hunt.
From rugged construction to an HD display, here’s why this rifle scope mainly stands out to us.
Aluminum Build
The FLIR thermal scope features a premium-quality, durable build. The overall housing is made using military-grade aluminum, making it sturdy enough to withstand harsh conditions on the field.
Plus, it features an objective lens made from Germanium glass that can last for years without any degradation in performance.
Compact and Lightweight Body
At 1.44 pounds, the Pro PTS223 is quite lightweight, portable, and easily manageable, even for beginners. The overall design is compact, and it can easily fit in a backpack without taking up much space or adding too much weight.
Waterproof
Apart from the rugged build, the scope is designed to be waterproof and fog-proof. It ensures clear and distinct imaging through haze, fog, and smoke. You can use the PTS223 even in the rain without worrying about any damage.
Thermal Imaging Quality
This sturdy yet lightweight scope is powered by a FLIR Boson core that provides high-end imaging with minimum power consumption.
The 19 mm objective lens with a 12° x 9.5° field of view allows long-range performance. And with 12 µm pixel size and 320 x 256 resolution, the PTS223 delivers superb image quality regardless of the weather conditions.
The native magnification is 1.5x with a digital zoom of 1x, 2x, and 4x for further-off targets.
The PTS223 is equipped with image processing technology, allowing the sensor to ensure distortion-free images while enhancing details, so you can see the scene clearly.
Other notable features include a 45 mm eye relief and manual focus from 10m to infinity.
Color Palettes and Reticles
The FLIR Pro scope offers seven color palettes (Urban Alert, Outdoor Alert, Arctic, Sepia, Ironbow HC, Rainbow, Black Hot, and White Hot) to precisely indicate ambient temperature variations during a hunt.
It also supports different reticle patterns - Line Dot, Cross Center Dot, Cross, Crosshair, Dot 4 MOA, and “No Reticle.” The reticle colors are also changeable; you can choose from Black, White, Red, and Cyan.
User-friendly Interface
This rifle scope also has a user-friendly interface. Once you get used to this scope, it is extremely easy to operate. The controls are simple and allow you to adjust the settings with a touch of a button.
Plus, the onscreen navigation menu makes it easy to select the settings. You can customize different settings such as color palette, reticle type and color, brightness, and even digital zoom to get the right setting for shooting.
Set up
The PTS223 thermal scope is easy to mount to a Picatinny rail, and a 1.5-inch side rail holds extra accessories like cable and lights. Plus, the quick-release lever allows you to install and remove the scope in seconds.
On-board Video Recording and Image Capturing
You can record the before/after shot video and capture high-end images with this scope. The internal memory can easily hold up to 1000 still images and 2.5 hours of videos.
Battery
The PTS223 scope is powered by 2 CR123A 3V lithium batteries that fit into a battery cassette. It can efficiently run for 4 hours before requiring a replacement.
Additional Accessories
The package includes multiple accessories, including 2 CR123A batteries with two battery cassettes, a USB Type-C cable for sharing and storing videos or images, and a lens cloth to keep the lens clean without scratching it.
There is also a detailed quick start guide to help with the setup and use. Lastly, you get a hard carrying case to move the scope around easily and safely store it when it’s not in use.
Issues & Concerns
While the Thermosight Pro has several great features, it has a few issues as well. These include:
Expensive
Considering its functions and performance, it’s no surprise that the FLIR Thermosight Pro PTS233 rifle scope is expensive. Other options offer similar performance at much more reasonable rates.
No focus ring
The instructions state that the scope does not have a focus ring, limiting the ability to get clear details of the target unless it is within the given range.
Care and Maintenance
While the FLIR thermal scope has a premium build to ensure durability, proper care, and maintenance help maintain its performance.
Here’s what you need to do:
- Wipe the housing with a damp cloth after every use.
- Never use abrasive chemicals or solvents to clean the lens or display.
- Avoid leaving fingerprints on the optics or scratching the lens.
- Don’t use paper or brushes to clean the lens, as they might damage it.
- Always wipe the lens using the lens cloth that comes in the package.
- Ensure to store the scope in the hard case and keep it in a cool and dry environment.
Warranty
A reliable warranty backs the PTS223 to enhance the confidence of customers. It comes with a 3-year limited warranty on all components, except the replaceable batteries. Meanwhile, the uncooled sensor comes with a 10-year warranty.
The warranty covers mechanical and technical faults, material failure, and design flaws. However, the company is not liable for any damage caused by mishandling.
- Brand: FLIR Systems
- Model: Thermosight Pro PTS233
- Color: Black
- Material: Aluminum
- Weight: 1.44 pounds
- Dimensions: 8.7 x 3.3 x 2.7 inches
- Sport Type: Hunting
- Refresh Rate: 60 Hz
- Lens System: 19 mm; F/1.0
- Pixel Array Format: 320 x 256
- Pixel Size: 12 µm
- Turn-on Time, max: <1.5 seconds
- Detector Type: 320x256 VOx Microbolometer
- Internal Memory: 2.5 hours of video, 1000 still images
- Zoom: 1x, 2x, 4x
- Optical magnification: 1.5x
- Video output: Digital video
- Field of View (H x V): 12° x 9.5°
- Diopter Adjustment: Manual (-5 to +5 dpt)
- Focusing range: 10 m to inf.
- Core: FLIR 12 µm Boson
- Reticle Types: 5
- Reticle colors: 4
- Polarity options: 7
- Pixel display format: 1280x960
- Eye relief: 45 mm
- Objective Lens Type: Germanium
- Objective focal length: 19 mm
- Objective F-number: 1:1
- Power Supply: Battery-powered (2 CR123A 3V Lithium batteries)
- Battery life: up to 4 hours
- Operating Temperature: -20 °C to +50 °C (-4 °F to +122 °F)
- Height of Scope Axis Above Rail: 1.5 inches (42 mm)
Where to Buy
You can order the FLIR Thermosight Pro PTS223 from Amazon.com.
